What to Wear Postpartum {Dressing to Cover the Tummy & Diastasis}

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We’re smack in the middle of our Fitting in Fitness Challenge, and I have to say that I’m so thankful to have so many of you on board!

Today we’re talking about what to wear postpartum and how to dress to best cover the tummy and a diastasis, which is one reason I wanted to do this challenge in the first place. I still can’t fit into any of my pre-pregnancy clothing!

(Not sure what a diastasis is? Check this out!)

After my third baby was born in late August, I basically stayed in maternity clothes another two months. It’s not that I wanted to keep wearing my maternity clothes: It was that I gained a whopping 50 pounds this last pregnancy and still have more than 20 to lose (and I’d like to lose 30!).

To top it off, I had developed a diastasis during my second pregnancy, but it went undiagnosed until I found the Fit2B website! I had a 3 finger width. So even though I was starting (and still am) to slowly lose weight, I still looked pregnant.

So how is a postpartum mama to dress? Do we just succumb to sweats? (Well, sometimes we do, but there are other ways to dress to look our best!)

Check out these 10 ways to dress the postpartum body:

1. Wear printed shirts.

A top with a snazzy design instead of a solid color will draw the attention away from the bulging middle. Seriously, it will! Just be sure it’s not a flower slapped across your belly button. That might actually make people notice your postpartum figure a little more!

2. Wear mom jeans.

Say what?! Yes, I just told you to go out and buy some mom jeans. My mom actually bought me some. Now, they aren’t as bad as you would think. My mom jeans go over my belly button and essentially help suck in my diastasis, so I don’t have to suck in so much myself that I turn blue and faint. They have a little panel that tightens up the belly. And I don’t think my mom paid big bucks for these mom jeans either. I’m pretty sure she got them at Kohls–probably for at least 30% off or maybe even on clearance. (My family only shops sales!)

3. Wear “flowy” skirts or dresses.

This is probably my favorite way to cover the postpartum belly and a diastasis! Long flowy skirts and dresses are so comfortable and you can even wear them with a thick pair of tights or leggings and boots in the winter! Skirts with an elastic waistline that will not cut off your circulation are best. And as an added bonus, you will probably still be able to wear these skirts after you lose the weight!

I found this board full of flowy skirts on Pinterest. Aren’t they cute?!

4. Wear loose blouses.

This is the time to put skin-tight attire behind you. (Actually, you may want to do that even if you aren’t postpartum!) You don’t want your clothing hugging the belly fat. An attractive, loose blouse will do the trick at hiding a protruding belly.

5. Wear black.

It’s pretty common knowledge that black is the slimming color!

6. Wear gaucho pants.

Ok, so are gaucho pants still cool? Knowing me, they went out of style long ago, but I don’t really care: I love them! I’ve been wearing the same gaucho pants since my first pregnancy. They’ve run the gamut with me–from my too-thin days when I was barely holding at a size 2 to my 5-months postpartum belly that still looks pregnant (when I don’t dress to hide it).

If you can find some, they are well worth the investment!

7. Wear trendy jewelry.

Now, I’m not a good example here. I don’t do trendy. Really, I don’t. I wear the same pieces of jewelry (and clothing and shoes for that matter) year after year because I’m just too cheap to buy more–and we really couldn’t afford to even if I wanted to.

But a nice piece of jewelry will, once again, direct people’s eyes away from your middle!

8. Wear a belly band/splint.

I didn’t want to spend much money, but I think investing in a belly band/splint was well worth it after this past pregnancy. I got mine at a local wellness store, but Bethany of Fit2B recommends this one. Not only can a belly band help minimize the postpartum tummy, but it can also help pull together a diastasis, which can have a very negative impact on your health if it doesn’t heal properly!

9. Wear your baby in a baby carrier/sling.

Am I serious? Yes, actually, I am! Wearing your baby in carrier like a Boba is not only good for bonding and convenient, but no one will even notice that postpartum tummy underneath!

10. Wear maternity clothes.

Uggg–did I really just list that as an option? I know it’s not ideal, but sometimes you just have to keep wearing them for a while.

Next week, I’ll post on how to afford a postpartum wardrobe on a budget. Believe me, I don’t have much to spend, so I had to get creative!

In the top image, I’m wearing a stretchy, elastic-waistband skirt that was actually a hand-me-down from my sister. I’m wearing a black and white printed blouse that is loose-fitting and a black cardigan that I’ve had for years. I’m wearing a long Lilla Rose necklace that I got for free for hosting a party, and I’ve had the boots for, oh, 8 years now. It may be hard to see from the picture (which is the point with this outfit!), but I still have the postpartum bulge! Other images by  …love Maegan.

What are your suggestions for what to wear postpartum? Do you try to dress to cover the postpartum belly (or a diastasis?)?

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